Matthew Stevens and Justin Brown Live From The Red Room

Canadian born and Harlem based artist, Matthew Stevens, is a superb composer and guitar player of the jazz-rock style . He has built quite the reputation for himself after graduating from Berklee in 2004 by networking and collaborating with artists such as Harvey Mason, NEXT Collective, and Esperanza Spaulding. Stevens worked on her D+Evolution project as well as Exposure, which he played on as well helped to compose and produce. He has been included in DownBeat Magazine’s 25 For The Future issue and the Annual Critics Poll Rising Star Guitar Category two years in a row. His performances have been praised by publications such as Billboard, NPR, The New York Times, and Pitchfork, and his 2015 album, “Woodwork” has received admiration from DownBeat Magazine, Jay Z’s Life and Times, Jazz Times and Jazz Wise magazines, and many more. “LA Weekly described Woodwork as ‘an amalgamation of modern jazz and neo-fusion elements which showcase… sonic versatility and savvy producing chops.'”

Last year Matthew released his album Preverbal and Mojo pointed out his “‘singular style [that] dissolves the demarcation lines between jazz, rock, and ambient music'” while NPR reported that it is “‘music [that] advances the ideals of modern jazz.'”

From Oakland, California, drummer Justin Brown has already worked with artists like Esperanza Spaulding, Thundercat, and Gerald Clayton. He now drums for his band Nyeusi which “ties together past, present, and future, with Brown helming the group with musical invention and drumming wit.”